[Guest]

Just wondering how normal my '02 620 is. It doesn't seem to be using any oil, but the cursory swipe of the finger inside the tailpipe reveals a fine black coating, slightly wet, which seems like it's burning a bit of oil. I'm at 1200 miles now, had the 600 done at Ducati of Marin, and the oil level hasn't seemed to move any lower (visibly) since the service. Should I worry?

 

[Guest]

i wouldn't worry... the blackness is carbon buildup from your exhaust fumes (i've seen the insides of plenty of cans and they're all VERY black), and the moisture could just be condensation from the air during cool-off??

better guage would be to check your spark plugs. if they're white, you're lean. if they're black, you're rich, if they're brownish, you're good to go.

 

[Duc_N_Har]

Sometimes I wonder if we stick our fingers in too many places , trying to find out whats not broken, I am guilty of that too. Sometimes I just lay on the ground rubbing and looking at things under there, thinking, "was that like that before, is that oil there, why does that look like that, I don;t remember seeing it look like that,shouldn't that be a little tighter???" Even when it is running great ya gotta wonder, " did I just hear a noise, does that sound a little different today?" oh well............

 

[Guest]

First, thanks Strati. I've seen your can mods and value your input. That puts my mind a little more at ease. And yeah, DucnHar, we all put our fingers in too many places and let our minds spin around too much. I could swear this morning that it was smoking slightly or that the exhaust smelled a bit different, but it was a very cool morning and I could be imagining it. I'll probably pull the plugs just to be sure. Thanks gang, great site and great help!

 

[Guest]

My plugs are black....smells rich, black smoke during high rpm, and gets either side of forty mpg. No competent dealer around...suggestions??? Guess I could cut open my air box lid ???

 

[Guest]

Dude, cutting your airbox lid might let in slightly more air but it's no cure for a rich running condition. Sorry about your dealer situation, but there's got to be someone on this site who can point you to someone competent in your area. Be sure to let us know where you are. Fuel injection isn't really all that spooky anyway. Rich running can still be caused by the same old things: Poor ring or valve stem sealing (compression test?), or possibly E.F.I. temp sensor failure giving false reading to the computer causing a rich fuel situation, or possibly even the e.c.u. failing to deliver the proper mapping for the injection system. If your plugs are coming out black, is it an oily deposit or unburned fuel?